Post by Frequent Flyer Miles on Mar 1, 2021 17:11:56 GMT -5
Somewhere on the Interstate
March 1, 2021
Lunchtime
It’s not easy being a wrestler. In fact, it’s anything but. If somebody tells you this is the way to fame and fortune and never having to work a Joe Schmoe day job ever again…that person is lying. If somebody tells you it’s all glitz and glamour and title opportunities…then they’re lying too. It doesn’t really work like that. Sure, those things are a part of it, eventually, if you’re lucky…but for the most part? For the most part, being a wrestler means spending half your week on the road every other week, then coming home and having to make up a whole bunch of hours at work, because you had to make up some excuse why you couldn’t be there again this week. You know – at that Joe Schmoe day job you were never going to have to work again? Yeah.
Don’t get me wrong – there’s some great parts to it. There’s times when you’re going to be riding so high on this dream you’re living, that you’re going to forget about everything you have to do when you step out of that squared circle. There’s times it’s going to feel so good, it’s going to make you giddy. But then later, when you’re back in your hotel room, and you’re aching so much you can’t get to sleep, and you know you have to drive however many hours the next day, and then still go to work the day after…at those times, it’s not going to feel like such a wild trip after all. At those times, you’re going to find yourself thinking if those ten minutes of fame every other Tuesday night are really worth the hassle. And trust me – you’re going to give it some serious thought. The more you go around the ride, the more you’re going to think about it. But see, the thing is…at the end of the day…you’re always going to come to the same conclusion.
Yes.
Yes, it definitely is worth it.
See, that’s what makes you a wrestler, and not just somebody who wants to be famous. That’s how you know you’re in it for the long haul. That you actually want to live the dream, the whole dream, and not just the parts you made believe jumping on the trampoline when you were five. And you want to live it for as long as you can.
It’s not going to take you long to work it out, either. Heck, it took me less than a year. I know what I said just now is the kind of thing you usually hear grizzled old veterans grouching about in interviews on YouTube, but trust me…you can be a twenty-two-year-old rookie and not be that starry eyed anymore. Take it from somebody who knows.
And this is where this entire thing has been leading up until now: now that you know you’re a wrestler, and you’ve decided to take the good with the bad…how do you keep the bad from outweighing the good? Well, the good news is, it’s not hard; the bad news is, you’ve got to be the right kind of person to pull it off.
Here’s what you need to do. First off, keep a positive mental attitude. Keep smiling. Keep thinking good thoughts. As Dory from Finding Nemo would put it, just keep swimming. Don’t let a bad night get you down. Don’t let criticism make you second-guess yourself. If you think like a hammer, everything starts to look like nails. And once everything around you looks like nails, there’s nothing to do but hit everything in sight. And you definitely don’t want that. So, keep a clear head, think good thoughts, and do whatever you need to do to make sure you’re in as good of a place as possible.
Second: find your support unit. Friends. Family. Whoever. Surround yourself with positive energy. With people who believe in you, and want to bring you up, not down. Trust me, you’re going to need as many of those as you can get after that bad night, or that bad performance, or when an opponent tries to get in your head. When something like that happens, don’t be afraid to go into your bubble for a little while. Just make sure you don’t get trapped in there – we’ll talk about that here in a minute. For now, just remember this: a good support network is one of the most important things you can have when---
‘QUIT IT!’
---huhwhatthehuh---?!
‘Teagan, quit it!’
---what the Sam Hill---?
‘What’s the matter, Isabella? I thought you liked rock candy!’
‘Not when it’s being thrown at my head! And don’t call me that!’
‘Call you what? EEEE-suuuuuh-belllll-uuuuhhh?’
‘Ow! Why are you such a freaking baby some---OW!’
‘Girls, do you mind? I’m trying to write over here!’
‘Ooooooohhhh! We’ve really gone and done it now, Iz! We’ve disturbed Professor Miles Shakespeare, Poet Laureate!’
‘Shut up, Teagan…’
‘What’chu writing, anyway? The Great American Novel?’
‘Nah---it’s probably his Last Will and Testament. You know, in case he gets killed tomorrow night. Again!’
‘Very funny, Run. You’re supposed to be the supportive one, you know---’
‘Honestly, bro? You make it too easy.’
‘How exactly do I---’
‘Holy canolli! He’s really going in deep here, you guys! Listen to this---’
‘Teagan, don’t---’
‘It’s not easy being a wrestler. In fact, it’s anything but.’
‘Teagan, don’t---’
‘If somebody tells you this is the way to fame and fortune and never having to work a Joe Schmoe day job ever again…that person is lying.’
‘It’s not even finished yet! C’mon, you guys!’
‘All right, all right. Have your masterpiece back, Groucho Miles!’
‘Thank you. Now, if you guys excuse me---’
---where was I?
Oh, yeah. Support network. Right.
Now, the third thing you have to remember is to keep practising. Keep training. Don’t assume you know everything, even when you’re at the top of the heap. Because A: you don’t. And B: the guys below you sure aren’t resting on their laurels. If you don’t keep up, you may be in for a surprise sooner rather than later.
Case in point: myself. After I won the Revo1 World Championship last Christmas---
‘OWWWWWWW!’
‘She shoots…she SCORES!’
---OK. I give up. This is hopeless. Whoever heard of writing a self-help blog on a bus, anyway?
‘You know what, Teagan? I wish we would’a come in your car. You have way less time to be annoying when you have to focus on the road!’
‘Yeah, well...Old Faithful’s decided to crap out on us this time, and there’s only room for two on the Road Hog…so what’cha gonna do, right? Besides, we’re only going to San Diego. That’s like, next door!’
‘---whatever---’
‘Hey - I don’t hear the one person who has a right to complain being all pissy-moany about it. Well…unless you interrupt his life’s work…’
‘Shut up, Teagan.’
‘Awww! C’mon! Talk to me, Miley Boy! You ready to not be Main Event again tomorrow night?’
‘I am Main Eve---’
‘---no you’re not. You’re not in the last match on the card. So. Not Main Event.’
‘It’s a co-Main…’
‘Code for no Main. Code for the World freakin’ Champion gets screwed over again!’
‘Teagan---’
‘Seriously, dude. Don’t you ever get tired? I mean, it’s got to start grating sometime, right?’
‘Not really. I mean, I am still the World Champion---’
‘Yeah---and you’re getting less respect than when you weren’t. Think about it.’
--oh, snap. She kind of has a point, actually.
‘See? You’re finally getting it!’
Yeah. I---I think I am---
‘And I’m not talking about Diamond Girl tomorrow night, either. She’s just doing her job. It’s other people who aren’t. If you know what I mean.’
Yeah. Yeah, I kind of do.
‘Speaking of Diamond Girl…what’s the gameplan? You gonna wing it and hope she doesn’t figure out you don’t really have a strategy?’
‘Geez. Thanks for the confidence, you guys…’
‘Just messin’ with’cha, Champ! For real, though…what’s the gameplan?’
‘---I got one.’
‘Which you’re not sharing because---?’
‘He’s not sharing because he knows you’re the World Champion of blabbing to people about stuff you shouldn’t!’
‘Ha-freaking-ha! Besties, remember?’
‘She ain’t lying, though…’
‘Awwww – not you too, Cutie-Patootie! Don’t do Aunt Teagan like that!’
‘Seriously…guys…I do have a gameplan. But I need some quiet time, or else I’m going to forget it.’
‘You hear that, guys? The big Champion doesn’t want us common folk butting into his quiet time…’
‘Shut up, Teagan.’
‘Shut up, Teagan.’
‘Shut up, Teagan.’
‘…three-on-one. ‘Cause that’s fair…’
‘Seriously, though, guys…I’m just going to lie back here for a little bit, ‘K? One of you guys shake me when we get there…’
‘Nah. Screw that. We’re all just gonna get off the bus and leave you inside and watch it take you back to Nevada.’
‘Ha-ha.’
‘I’m serious!’
‘Sure you are. Iz—make sure she doesn’t get away with it. And Run---make sure your gear’s all charged up and stuff. Soon as we get to San Diego, we’re shooting. All right?’
‘Roger that, Commander!’
‘Good. Now, if you guys excuse me, the AirPods are going on.’
Right. AirPods are on---seat is pushed back---
---aaaaannnnd breeeeeeathe.
This is going to feel awesome.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Heritage Inn
San Diego, California
March 1, 2021
Dinner Time
‘Somebody once said, the more things change, the more they stay the same. And I’m not going to lie – sometimes, in wrestling, it really does feel that way.’
I told myself no fancy openings, but oh well. I guess that’s not that fancy anyway.
‘Take me and Cartier. Less than a month ago, we were fighting on the second match from top on a supercard. A month passes, and we’re---fighting on the second match from top on a supercard. If that doesn’t prove that guy right, I don’t know what does.’
Yeah – I agree, Run. That was pretty good.
‘This time around, though, there is one thing that’s different. This time around, Revo1 are doing what they should have done the first time, and letting me put my World Title on the line. Which, trust me, guys, there is a contract signed for that---even if me and Cartier never got to sign it on air, and ended up doing it in Ms Moore’s office—’
‘Was that criticism? I’m so proud!’
‘Shhhh! Teagan! You’re going to throw him off!’
‘Anyway, we’re definitely, for real having a title match this time. And I’m not going to lie, if things had gone down like they should have, I’d be the challenger tomorrow night, not the Champion. But they didn’t, and it’s Cartier who has another chance at making things right. Which I guess is the next best thing.’
I mean that, too.
‘Truth is, though, Cartier – tomorrow night, neither of us has anything left to prove. I have this belt, you have that win over me – we both know where we stand. And that’s good. That means we can go at one another just the way we please, without having to walk on eggshells for anybody’s benefit. We can give each other our best. We can use every weapon in our arsenal.
Which begs the question…do you have an arsenal?’
OK…Teagan…you thought that was harsh back there? Better brace yourself, girlfriend.
‘See…this whole situation got me thinking…and I realized one thing. Last time, you caught me off-guard. You threw me off mentally, with what you said in your video, and then you capitalized on it in the ring. You knew about me, I didn’t know about you, you had the element of surprise, and you used it. This time, though? This time, I know what you’re capable of. I know how you work your opponent’s minds before the match, and I know how you work their bodies in the ring. So, Cartier…
…how are you going to surprise me this time?’
Seriously. Guys. Brace yourselves.
‘See, Cartier…the way I see it…you fired all your best shots last time. When it didn’t count. You used up your arsenal in a play fight. And now that the war’s about to begin…you opened up your weapons crate…and there’s nothing new in there. Nothing to surprise me with. Nothing I can’t see coming. In other words – you better start praying for a Loot Crate.
Me? I have the same weapons I’ve always had. Except I didn’t forget to re-load.’
Yup. O-faces all round. Called it.
‘…did he just mention war in a video?’
‘SHHHHH! Quiet on set!’
Good one, Run.
Anyway…where was I?
Oh yeah. Weapons.
‘So…Cartier…the way I see it…the ball’s in your court. You’re the one on offence. You’re the one who has to surprise me here. I’m just the goalie. All I have to do is stop your shots until the buzzer sounds. And my team’s already winning.’
‘--wait, when did we change to sports metaphors?’
‘SHHHHH!’
‘SHHHHH!’
‘SHHHHH!’
‘All right, all right! Geez!’
Don’t get distracted, Miles. Focus.
Let’s end this.
‘Cartier…tomorrow night…we’re playing for all the marbles. The Big One. The Revo1 World Championship. And trust me – we may not be Main Event, but as far as I’m concerned? This isn’t just the Main Event of the night – it’s the Main Event of my entire life. And I sure plan to live up to it. You think lightning’s going to strike twice for you? Prove it. Earn it. You’re halfway there already – all you have to do is get to the finish line. Make like Mario and grab that hammer and open up the fire pit so Bowser here can fall in and you can clear the castle. Just don’t expect Bowser to make it easy for you. Don’t expect Bowser to fall for the same old tricks he did last time. And remember, this is your last life. One false move, and it’s Game Over.
One false move…and your Princess goes to another castle.’
OK…time for the big finale.
‘Cartier…I could go on…but I don’t want to put everyone to sleep. So I’m going to let one of my favorite indie bands put it better than I ever could. They’re called Worth Taking. Most of their stuff is free on Bandcamp – check ‘em out.’
I don’t usually do this, but this time, somehow, it feels right.
‘So – this is from their The Anxious EP. It’s called This Time Around.’
We’re having live audio, too. That’s just how Miles A. Way rolls.
‘Always thought the problem was not enough heart
I never knew the challenge was just to try and stick together
Made it so far on a real strong start
I promised myself Chapter Two would be a little better
This time around, I’ll try a little harder
Won’t get caught up in everything
This time around, I’ll give a little more of myself
This time around!’
‘…aaaaand CUT!’
‘Good job, little bro. High-five! How was that, you guys?’
‘Holy mixed metaphors, Batman! You were talking about war – then it was sports – then videogames – music -- I could barely keep up!’
‘Yeah, well, if you hadn’t been distracting him---’
‘What’chu talkin’ ‘bout, Willis?’
‘Guys…guys! Let’s just enjoy our down time, all right?’
‘Yeah…fair enough.’
‘And remember…whatever happens tomorrow night…I’m glad you guys were along for the ride.’
Now that is the most sincere thing I’ve said all night.
FINAL WORD COUNT: 2.567
FINAL WORD COUNT: 2.567